Operation Parent

The Operation Parent Community is officially open! This new community gives parents and caregivers a trusted place to stay informed, connect with others, and access handbook-based courses, webinar clips, blogs, and helpful resources on the issues families are navigating today. Available online and through the app, support is just a click away! For coalitions, schools, churches, pediatric partners, and other organizations serving families, this community offers another way to connect parents with trusted, ongoing support. Help us reach more parents and caregivers and keep the conversations that matter going! Join for free now: https://lnkd.in/eufmJSqu #OPCommunity

A little community support can go a long way! We’re grateful to receive a $250 Spark Good Local Grant from our local Walmart in La Grange, Kentucky, to support Operation Parent’s mission. This gift helps us reach more parents and caregivers with resources to start casual, courageous conversations with their children about topics like substance use, mental health, peer pressure, and healthy decision-making. Because sometimes, one conversation can open the door to so many more. A big thank-you to our local Walmart team for investing in families and helping us empower parents and caregivers to lead, guide, and protect the young people in their lives! #SparkGood

Supporting parents goes beyond providing good information. Connection matters, too. Our latest blog explores the importance of community in parenting and why opportunities to learn from, share with, and support one another can be so valuable for parents and caregivers. It’s also one of the reasons we’re excited about what’s coming next at Operation Parent: a new way for parents to stay connected, continue learning, and feel more prepared for the conversations that matter. The Operation Parent Community is coming soon! https://lnkd.in/geXz__yP

Energy drinks are getting bolder, alcoholic beverages are getting trendier, and the choices young people see on store shelves keep changing. So, what should parents know about alcohol and caffeine? Join Aaron Weiner, PhD, ABPP of Prime For Life by PRI on October 27 to explore how these substances affect the developing brain and learn how to have informed conversations with your children. Register today https://loom.ly/xYwNZMg

Sometimes you can tell something is on their mind, but you have no idea what it is. Instead of asking, “What’s wrong?” try opening the door a little differently. This question gives them room to talk about whatever is taking up mental space, whether it's school, friendships, activities, stress, or something they haven't quite figured out yet. You don't have to have the perfect response or solve the problem. Sometimes being willing to listen is exactly what they need.

Common Sense Media recently assessed ChatGPT for teens and found an “Unacceptable Risk” for young people, with concerns about safety protections, parental notifications, and other safeguards (check out the full risk assessment here: https://loom.ly/3pTcois). So, what does that mean for parents? Common Sense Media followed up with a guide that breaks down ChatGPT’s parental controls, what they can and can’t do, and what parents should know about the limits of these settings. Whether ChatGPT is already coming up in your family or you’re simply trying to understand the technology, it’s worth knowing what these controls actually offer. Check out the guide here: https://loom.ly/lt4E8K0

Who are today's youth turning to when they need advice, support, or someone to talk to? Increasingly, AI is becoming part of that answer. From AI companions and virtual relationships to the tools built into platforms like Snapchat and Meta, artificial intelligence is playing a growing role in how young people connect, communicate, and make decisions. Join Robbie Torney of Common Sense Media on November 17 as he explores how AI is shaping relationships, emotional wellbeing, and social development, along with the important questions parents and caregivers should be asking as these technologies become part of everyday life. Register now: https://loom.ly/nnOWBUc

A huge thank you to Kosair for Kids for being the Premier Sponsor of our 20th Anniversary Celebration Breakfast! It was an incredible morning celebrating 20 years of Operation Parent, and we’re so grateful for partners like Kosair for Kids who help make our work possible. Their support of children, families, and communities has had a lasting impact, and we’re honored to partner with an organization that shares our commitment to helping families thrive.

Last week, more than 200 supporters, partners, community leaders, and friends joined us to celebrate 20 years of Operation Parent. What started with one mom of five looking for help has grown into a national organization that has reached more than 500,000 families with resources, education, and support. A special thank you to our Premier Sponsor, Kosair for Kids, and our Family Champion Sponsors: Baptist Health La Grange, Southeast Christian Church , Financial Solutions, Harvest Company, Welch Printing, and Vaughn Pettit Legal Group. Your support helped make this celebration possible! We are especially grateful to our founder, Jean Schumm, whose vision sparked a movement that continues to empower parents and caregivers across the country. Seeing so many people gathered to celebrate her legacy and the impact of this mission was truly inspiring. While we spent the morning reflecting on 20 years of growth and impact, we also looked ahead. There are still more parents to equip, more families to reach, and more courageous conversations to inspire! Thank you to everyone who attended, supported, sponsored, and believed in this mission. Celebrating 20 years was a special moment, but we know the work isn't finished. Here's to the next 20 years of helping families thrive!

The parents and caregivers you serve don't stop having questions after a webinar ends or a handbook is read. Neither do you. Whether it's technology, mental health, substance use, relationships, or the next challenge around the corner, families are looking for trusted information and practical support as they navigate the realities of raising kids today. At Operation Parent, we're working on a new way to help parents and caregivers stay informed, connected, and supported. We can't wait to share more soon. #OPCommunity #ParentingTogether #Parenting